Guwahati: Opposition parties in Assam on Sunday, September 27, criticised the reported detention of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) co-convener Ashutosh Ranka and several party volunteers in Guwahati ahead of a scheduled meeting.
CJP and opposition leaders said Ranka and more than 40 volunteers were detained before a regional volunteers' meeting could take place. Other reports put the number of detained CJP workers at around 30, with the exact number not independently established.
The reported detentions took place near the Assam Secretariat in the Dispur area. CJP said the gathering was a peaceful meeting to discuss issues including education and other concerns in the state.
Congress questions police action
Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi criticised the reported detention and demanded the release of those taken into custody.
Gogoi questioned why young people and activists were being detained and described the reported police action as unacceptable. He also alleged that the BJP-led government was attempting to restrict the voices of young people.
Reetam Singh, general secretary of the Assam Congress legal cell, reportedly filed a missing-persons complaint at Dispur police station over Ranka's detention. He alleged that people wearing Assam Police uniforms had taken Ranka from a private property without providing notice or a warrant.
These claims were made by Congress representatives and have not been independently established.
Other opposition parties react
Raijor Dal leader Gyanashree Bora also criticised the reported detention and said efforts were being made to prevent people from contacting Ranka and other detainees.
Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Gogoi condemned the reported detention in a social media post and said political dissent should not be treated as a crime.
Aam Aadmi Party Northeast in-charge Rajesh Sharma also criticised the police action and demanded the release of the detained CJP members.
The opposition leaders linked the incident to CJP's campaign on issues including government schools, electoral-roll revision and land and environmental concerns.
CJP alleges political suppression
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged that Ranka and other members were detained while preparing to attend the volunteers' meeting.
Dipke demanded Ranka's immediate release and said he would travel to Assam with other CJP members if the detained activists were not released.
Ranka, while being taken into custody, alleged that the Assam government was concerned about CJP raising questions over government schools, Kaziranga and other state issues. Those statements were made as allegations and have not been independently verified.
BJP responds
Senior BJP leader Manab Deka responded to CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke's remarks about travelling to Assam and said the state would not respond to threats.
Deka also criticised Dipke's remarks about Assam and invoked the state's historical resistance to outside powers.
At the time of reporting, a detailed official explanation from Assam Police regarding the grounds for detaining Ranka and the other CJP members was not available in the sources reviewed. The situation remained developing.
